Thursday, August 2, 2012

Camelot & Vine: Casey's adventure (and mine)


Official Announcement:
I have a publisher for my novel, Camelot & Vine.

That publisher is me.

I have weighed the goods and bads, the ups and downs, the fats and thins and now is the time! No more dilly-dallying and thinking and wondering and ohIdon'tknowing. I have watched my friends make successes of their self-published works. I see four self-published authors on the New York Times Bestseller list this week. Just yesterday another self-published novel was purchased to become a Hollywood film. Self-publishing is in! It's hot! It's the latest thing! And you know me, I am all about the latest trends. You should see my wardrobe. 

No. You shouldn't. There are advantages to the internet.

What I mean is there's no better time than now, no better publisher than me, for Camelot & Vine. And I'm excited.

Ten years ago, self-publishing was creepy. The only people who did it were desperate types who couldn't get the publishing industry to give them the time of day. But now we have the internet, with different platforms and pricing. It's the wild west out here, and speaking of my wardrobe, I look fine in cowboy boots.

I'm excited to be part of this new wave of publishing. I took a baby step (in my boots) by publishing Belinda's Birthday as a free download on Smashwords. (If I said I got my feet wet would that be too confusing, with the boots image?) Now I'm ready to move forward with the whole shebang. 

Actually it's not a shebang. It's a novel.

I've added a new page to my blog. You can see the link at the top here. It's called Camelot & Vine: Casey's adventure (and mine). I'll update the page whenever I have news of my publishing adventure. Of course I'll remind you here when I post there.

I don't mind telling you it's scary and I'll be grateful for any encouragement you feel inclined to give, whether it comes in the form of cheerleading, questioning or critique. But I'm right about this. My main character, Casey, goes on her adventure by accident. I embark on mine with a sense of purpose, the t-shirt in the window of the photo notwithstanding.

46 comments:

dive said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRkovnss7sg

Woohoo! Pull on those boots and step out in style, Petrea.
My bookshelves can't wait for their own copy of Camelot and Vine.

Leeds daily photo said...

The net has changed so many things and I think you are right self-publishing is a whole different thing now. Boots or no I wish every success with this.

Book Dragon said...

I'm so excited for you!

LOLfromPasa said...

That's the spirit! Well done, Petrea. Will enjoy following you on your new venture. And, nice photo 'to boot'.

Unknown said...

Congratulations! And so many signs at one photo...

Adele said...

Congratulations! Huge step, and I know it will pay off. I am especially excited for the novel-reading public. We are nice people, and deserve to get to read the rest of your wonderful book. I can't wait to see what happens next, in Casey's story, and in yours.

BaysideLife said...

You couldn't have taken a more perfect photo. I'm so glad you are plunging into self-publishing. You go girl. Those boots were made for self-publishing!

Petrea Burchard said...

People are so nice in blogland, aren't they? Truly, though, I will be interested in your suggestions and critiques, so if you don't feel like entering them here feel free to email them.

Dive, it's good for a first novel but I'm warning you, it's not Ulysses. And thanks for the video. You've given me some more fashion ideas.

Book Dragon, I don't know if this one's your style, but I'll email you about it. (You guys should see her blog, I've never known anyone who reads so prolifically).

And look at you all! I'm receiving encouragement from the United Kingdom, Russia and the United States. Thanks so much. I feel fortunate to be part of the blogging world. How wonderful to receive well-wishes from around the world!

Latino Heritage said...

¡Ajúa and dale! Hooray and go for it! Best wishes for a great success.

Latino Heritage said...

¡Ajúa and dale! Hooray and go for it! Best wishes for a great success.

Amy said...

This is awesome news. Congrats on going for it. :)

LONDONLULU said...

Petrea, how wonderful! Wishing you lots of good luck. (Also wanted to say it's a great photo, to *boot*... but I think it's probably been said enough :)

Petrea Burchard said...

Roberta, luckily I was at Bell Sound when I read your comment. My engineer speaks Spanish and he translated for me (which you had apparently already done). Gracias!

Amy! Nice to see you. Thank you!

Thanks, Lulu, of course I can use the luck!

Anonymous said...

No questioning or critique here, strictly cheerleader.

Speedway said...

Congratulations, Petrea, for taking on this latest adventure! This writing thing is scary, isn't it? First of all, just finding the words, the correct words to describe a scene, then wondering whether anyone will think you have anything to say that's worth reading. Well, at least that's my case. The popularity of your blog should provide some encouragement to you as you proceed. As they'd say in my neighborhood, "You go, girl!"

Petrea Burchard said...

Karin, I'll appreciate your critique any time. But the cheers are good, too.

Thank you, Speedway! Writing doesn't scare me until other people read it.

dive said...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/aug/02/self-published-authors-bestseller-ebooks

It even made the news over here today, Petrea. The wave is building.

Diana Manchester said...

I am looking forward to getting my own (autographed, I hope) copy! The first chapter was intriguing and addicting. You are right, it's the wild west out there today for the self-published author. Very encouraging to hear of the success of others. Gee a movie! Anyway, even if you ARE picked up by a publisher, you have to do your own promoting.

Virginia said...

Oh I"m so proud to know your talented self and I hope your new book is a smashing success. My books have all agreed they will moosh over and make room for yours! Keep us abreast and you must come to B'ham for a book signin'!
V

Bellis said...

This could be the start of something big! I know, just know, that it'll be a bestseller.

Karen said...

Great news! A friend of mine just published a memoir at Trafford Publishing, www.trafford.com, in case you want to talk to her about the experience.

Petrea Burchard said...

Dive, thanks to you I edited the post to say four "authors" on the NYT list instead of four "books." Between these four authors they have seven books on the NYT bestseller list this week. Yowza.

This doesn't mean the books are good. It means they are selling.

Diana, I weighed that into my decision. The amount of work I am required to do is pretty much the same either way. (And signing books will be my pleasure.)

Virginia, I'm grateful! We publishers have to stick together! Or something like that!

Bellis, what do they say? Your lips to God's ear. I should be religious!

Karen, yes, I do want to talk to your friend, thanks.

Katie said...

Two Four Six Eight
What Do We Anticipate?
Camelot & Vine!
Camelot & Vine!
Yaaaaaaay!

Although I draw the line at shaking around pom pons, I'll happily be a cheerleader for C&V. I can't wait to read your novel and see where Casey (and you) will take us!

Ms M said...

Good for you! I will look forward to reading it also.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks! I can use all the cheerleading and well-wishing I can get.

Desiree said...

Super! I look forward to the book signing!

Lude said...

"Ten years ago, self-publishing was creepy. The only people who did it were desperate types who couldn't get the publishing industry to give them the time of day. But now we have the internet". I think this could not be more true.

I wish you the best of luck with this (I investigated this world too to be honest) and I'm wondering if you're going to make an e-version of it too as it seems to be pretty successful in the US.

Anita Davison said...

Congratulations and every success with Camelot and Vine - I'm in the queue to blog a review

Petrea Burchard said...

Thank you, Des! You will be there or I won't have it.

Eric, there will absolutely be an e-version--many e-versions! E-versions for every kind of device imaginable, from the iPad to the Sony e-reader to hearing aids to fountain pens, if I can make it happen!

Anita, thank you! It might fit into the criteria for Historical Novel Review. But my god, you have a lot of blogs!

-K- said...

I'm so happy to hear about this, Petrea.

Just writing a novel is a huge accomplishment. And going through all the machinations to get it out there is equally big.

Well done.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks so much, Kevin.

TheChieftess said...

Yay!!! We all knew you could do it!!! Can't wait for my copy too!!! Keep us posted!

Unknown said...

Add me to your cheerleader list, Petrea! I think you've made the right decision. . . Jane

Petrea Burchard said...

Chieftess, I will keep you posted. I will keep you so well posted, in fact, that you are in charge of letting me know when I become tiresome.

Thank you, Jane, thank you.

TheChieftess said...

So far so good Petrea!!!

Petrea Burchard said...

!

Susan Campisi said...

Yippee! I'm so excited for you - and for me and all of us here. How fun it will be to go to your reading and flip through the pages of your book. And if you don't print Camelot & Vine, I will buy my first e-reader in your honor.

Petrea Burchard said...

I'm honored, Susan! I had thought I'd do the ebook first, but Margaret shared her wisdom and reminded me that not everyone has an e-reader. I mean duh, I don't. So there will be a print book.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

Yay! congratulations Petrea. Here is the first question - how do you go about picking a name for a character "Casey" ?

Petrea Burchard said...

PA, I'm glad you asked. I named her Cassandra, Casey for short, because of the story in Greek mythology of King Priam's daughter Cassandra, who could "hear the future." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassandra
Casey hears her future through discovering the past. At first she's in denial and she doesn't much like her name, but it grows on her.

Petrea Burchard said...

Plus it alliterates nicely with her last name, Clemens.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

Oranges and lemons, say the bells of St. Clemens

Unknown said...

So happy to hear you're taking the leap! May you sell a hundred thousand books, Petrea!

Petrea Burchard said...

Yes! That would be fine.

Margaret said...

Look at all these fans you already have. It will be a fabulous adventure, and not nearly ad perilous as Casey's, so that is good!

Petrea Burchard said...

I have your inspiration and example to follow as well, Margaret.